help with furnishing my new flat?

poppasmurf_bewdley

Freecycle is the way to go. Try joining two or three different but close groups and put wanted ads on all the sites.

Also put feelers out amongst friends and family, and you will be surprised at what they may want to be getting rid of.

Only yesterday, I mentioned to my neighbour that I had a kitchen table and two chairs to dispose of and he snatched my hand off to have them.

pmlindyloo

Community Care Grants are not longer available.

https://www.gov.uk/community-care-grant/overview

You have not been on JSA long enough to get a budgeting loan.

if you are on income based JSa then there may be a scheme to help. Unlikely the council will help if you are on contribution based JSA.

So suggest you visit CAB and ask them if they know of any charities that do a free starter pack for moving into a new flat.

Plus, as already said

Friends/family
Freecycle
Local newspaper ads
Preloved website
Garage sales

DKLS

Its worth checking eBay for furniture, look for items that need collection and you can find some very cheap bargains, I got a coffee table for 99p and an oak wardrobe for £2.31.

A relative of mine was so impressed and spotted an opportunity to make some extra money. She buys furniture from Ebay and Gumtree, and revamps/upcycles them, its amazing what she can do with some orange pine.

Also a cheeky one, but if there are any private blocks of flats and you can get access check the bin area, when I lived in canary wharf it was amazing what other tenants threw away, there was usually a few items of good furniture and some expensive electrical goods.

BigAunty

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Friends/family
Freecycle
Local newspaper ads
Preloved website
Garage sales

I second this and also recommend:-

Gumtree Freebies (like Freecycle)

Local charities - i live in an area that has charities that donate kitchenware and furniture to those on low incomes (think some are aimed at the ex-homeless and others are for those on low incomes/benefits).

If you will struggle to afford food before your JSA is processed, look into your local foodbank.They may require a referral from another organisation, such as Citizens Advice, rather than direct requests but check out their criteria. These charities donate groceries to those in food poverty, typically giving a carrier bag or two of essentials. They are used to seeing clients that are awaiting benefit payments to come through.

newdave1975

once again, thank you to all who took the time to post will check out some of the advice given

burlington6

What area are you in? I have some stuff from a house clearance that might do the job.

newdave1975

hi sorry for late reply, im in darlington, county durham

Owain_Moneysaver

Kings Church Darlington furniture scheme

Frade Darlington has furniture recycling and is also a credit union so you might be able to get weekly payments (at a fair interest rate rather than the extortionate rates charged by high street weekly payment shops)

More Time Furniture in Newton Aycliffe

County Durham furniture reuse

newdave1975

thanks for those links, ill be checking them out too

fed_up_and_stressed

I wonder if you may be eligible for help from any trade charities. or the like. I helped a friend who worked in retail apply for help with white goods via the retail trust, or if you have been in the forces the royal british legion may be able to help.

There are other charitable foundationse.g ones based on occupations, religion even area a person lives in it is a case of seeing what help you may be eligible for the https://www.turn2us.org.uk website is a good place to start.